"Keep your hands off the socket - we've all heard that before. We learn as small children that electricity can be dangerous, and that's exactly why there are certain protection classes for all electrical devices - including lamps. But what exactly is that? What do you have to look out for? And what is the difference to the protection class? We'll explain all of that to you in this article in a simple and clear way, so that you know exactly what to do next time you buy a light."
What exactly are protection classes?
Put very simply, a lamp protection class indicates which protective measures are necessary against electric shock . For example, whether you can simply plug your new lighting into the socket or whether you first have to earth it with a cable. Such protection classes are not only available for lights, but are generally required for all electronic products and must therefore always be indicated on them. There are four lamp protection classes in total, although class 0 is not permitted in Germany and Austria because electrical devices must meet a certain minimum standard for our safety. The lamp protection class is often confused with the protection type , but they are not the same thing. The former is given in Roman numerals and, as already mentioned, shows how protected a light is against electric shock, whereas the protection type indicates protection against foreign bodies and water and is indicated with IP . There is therefore no such thing as an IP67 protection class.
What is a light ceiling?
protection class I
The first protection class stands for protective earthing , whereby all metallic and conductive housing parts of the lamp are connected to the so-called protective conductor system of the fixed electrical installation. In the event of a faulty voltage, a fuse is activated, which switches the circuit off so that you do not receive a shock. This lamp protection class is then very often found in ceiling lights , which are connected to the protective conductor system via the power outlet in the ceiling.
protection class II
In protection class 2 lamps, there is reinforced or double insulation between the mains circuit and the conductive housing of the lighting, which is usually called protective insulation. A lamp with protection class 2 is therefore protected even if it is made of a conductive material. A protectively insulated lamp therefore no longer needs to be connected to an additional protective conductor connection as in protection class 1. This usually applies to floor or table lamps , which simply need to be plugged into the socket and they are ready for use. These lamps often have a typical Euro plug - an example of a protection class 2 plug.
protection class III
In protection class 3 lamps, a so-called protective extra-low voltage applies, whereby the lamps marked with this are operated with a maximum voltage of 50 volts AC or 120 volts DC. In addition, just like in protection class 2, they have double insulation between the mains circuit and the output voltage. In addition, some of these lamps in protection class 3 require a safety transformer in accordance with DIN EN 61558-2-6, which can only be dispensed with in the case of protective extra-low voltages from rechargeable batteries or batteries. A protective conductor connection is not permitted here.
Where can I find the protection class for lamps?
To find out the lamp's protection class, all you need to do is look at the product properties in the Skapetze online shop. You will usually find the class under the technical data. If you cannot find it, please contact our customer service. We are always happy to help you. If you are visiting us on site in Simbach am Inn, just ask us directly about the protection class. Otherwise, it is also indicated on the packaging and sometimes directly on the lamp base of the lamp itself.
Which protection class for which rooms?
You cannot decide which rooms a light is ultimately suitable for based on the lamp's protection class alone. For example, whether a lamp with protection class 2 is suitable for a bathroom or not depends primarily on the protection type, because in this area it is mainly about protection against water. The same applies to using a light outdoors, although foreign bodies such as dirt also play an increasingly important role.
